The Resource Conservation District of Tehama County, Cal Fire’s Salt Creek Conservation Camp and Crane Mills united efforts to break up the continuity of wildland fuels and reduce the severity of wildfire in the Paskenta area by developing and implementing the Log Springs Ridge Fuel Break Improvement Project.

During the past three weeks the district, with the help of Salt Creek hand crews, treated roadside areas that were not accessible by mechanical mastication equipment during the fuel break’s initial development. Hand treatment area totaled around 10 acres of land or roughly three miles of roadside. Hazardous roadside vegetation consisting of brush and small trees, less than 10 inches in diameter, were hand cut, chipped and broadcast onsite.

This project work increases wildfire protection to the community of Paskenta, rural ranches west of Paskenta, the Salt Creek Conservation Camp, private timber lands and adjacent public lands of the Mendocino National Forest. Project work connects with and complements other large-scale fuel reduction projects being developed by the district and Mendocino National Forest.

In addition, as with all developed fuel breaks, project work improves the ability of firefighting personnel to conduct wildfire initial attack and influence wildfire behavior. It is anticipated that this fuel break and others established or planned will be used as anchor points for future prescribed burns or other fuel management efforts.

The role of the district is to work with the community to manage, conserve, improve and enjoy the natural resources throughout the county. As a Special District without a tax base funding, the district heavily relies on grants to offer wildfire prevention services to Tehama County.

This project was completed with RAC Title II funds, the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Program, a federal program that assigns funds to counties that traditionally have been supported by timber payments for maintenance and enhancement of forest and watershed ecosystems.

For more about district wildfire fuels reduction projects, other services offered and to donate, visit www.tehamacountyrcd.org.